Page 89 of The Wedding Wrecker

I pushed my finger to his lips, laughing as his eyes sparkled. “Okay. Less specific was better. Somebody is going to hear you.”

“Good. I want everyone to know how obsessed I am with you. I want them to know how I can’t keep my hands off you. I want them to look at us and feel so jealous they can barely stand. And, of course, I want them to know they can’t have you, because you’re mine.”

“You know…” I said, swaying with my cheek pressed against his chest. “A lot of people would call you crazy for talking like that. How many days have we actually spent together in total? Five? Seven?”

“Eight. I’m hurt that you haven’t been counting. And frankly, I don’t care what a lot of people would call us. I only care what you think about us.”

“Well, I’m not the person to ask. I’m the one who was already falling for you back in Ireland. That’s why it hurt so bad when?—”

“Shh,” he said, silencing me with a tender kiss. “I’m sorry I hurt you, Em. Believe me when I say I’ll never do it again. Unless you ask. In the form of spanking, or something equally sexy.”

I swatted at him as the corners of my lips curved upward. “I believe you,” I said. “Finally… it feels like I’m able to trust. I know things might not go how I want. They might not work out perfectly, but I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than ride this thing and see where it goes.”

“Not to ruin the moment… but did I just hear you say you wanted to ride me? Because that can be arranged. Only I think we should find somewhere more private.”

“James,” I said, laughing softly. “I’m being serious.”

“I know,” he said. His fingertip traced my lower lip, eyes lowered so I could admire his long lashes. “Oh, there was something I meant to ask you.”

“Anything,” I whispered.

“Do you know if Emma Marshall gives discounts on wedding planning to her boyfriends?”

My heart stopped. "James..."

"Not right now," he said quickly. "But someday. When we're ready." He pressed his forehead to mine. "I just want you to know that's where I see this going. You and me, building something real together."

I pulled him down for a kiss. "I love you," I whispered, “even though you’ve made a career out of destroying exactly what I try to build.”

He laughed. "For a noble cause. I feel like that should be mentioned in your little jab.”

"Once you’re done making it up to me, I’ll stop teasing you about it.”

"Hmm,” he said, voice so deep it vibrated through his chest to mine. “I’ve enjoyed making it up to you quite a bit, Em. I can’t promise I’ll be done any time soon.”

I smiled up at him, my heart so full it hurt. "Good."

31

EPILOGUE - EMMA

One Year Later

"No, absolutely not." I stared at the PowerPoint slide James had added to my consultation deck. "We are not calling it 'Wreck-Prevention Services.'"

"Why not?" James lounged in his chair, looking unfairly good in a charcoal sweater that made his eyes pop. "It's accurate."

"It's terrible marketing." I changed it back to my original title: 'Relationship Readiness Consulting.' "We're trying to help couples, not terrify them."

"Fine." He pulled me into his lap, nuzzling my neck. "But I still think my tagline was better."

"'Let us wreck your relationship before someone else does' is not better."

"It's memorable!"

"We’re hoping wedon’thave to wreck any relationships. The goal is helping them work through their issues and getting themto the finish line." But I was laughing as I said it. "We're also supposed to be preparing for this consultation."

"We are prepared." His hands slid under my shirt. "The March wedding is completely handled, the May couple just needs final details, and this new couple isn't here for another hour."

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